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49th out of 108 books
—
98 voters
Minus 148 Degrees
Classic tale of dramatic near-death experiences in the harshest of conditions.
Paperback, 242 pages
Published
December 1st 1999
by Mountaineers Books
(first published 1970)
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Tales of extreme adventure never lose their appeal for me! I am especially drawn to stories of epic mountain ascents under horrible conditions, possibly because they are often steeped in descriptions of how each of the excursion team's personalities act, think, and react to each other and the situations in which they find themselves. This story is of the first winter ascent of Denali/Mt. McKinley in Alaska. As often is the case when climbing over glaciers, ice and snow to altitudes most of us wo...more
This book was probably the first book I had to read in one straight push, cover to cover (I could not put it down). It was a Sunday, and I sympathized while I was eating dinner (KFC chicken) as the author and his buddies were starving, storm-bound at 17.2K ft on the side of Denali/Mt. McKinley. The book is about the first winter ascent of Denali.
Why climb mountains? Art Davidson says: "To eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in peace."
The title comes from the unrounded lowest figure typically...more
Why climb mountains? Art Davidson says: "To eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in peace."
The title comes from the unrounded lowest figure typically...more
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Apr 10, 2009
Eric_W
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
readers who liked Into Thin Air
Shelves:
biography-memoir
It's bad enough to want to get really cold in the summer, but to do it in the winter buggars rational thought. These idiots decided to climb Mt. McKinley in the dead of winter.
Art Davidson was disappointed as a child when he learned that all the continents had been discovered. It's no wonder then that he just had to climb McKinley in winter. Many thought it was impossible. Temperatures hovered around -60 and winds often reached 160 mph. Indeed, in December there is only about 4 hours of sunligh...more
Art Davidson was disappointed as a child when he learned that all the continents had been discovered. It's no wonder then that he just had to climb McKinley in winter. Many thought it was impossible. Temperatures hovered around -60 and winds often reached 160 mph. Indeed, in December there is only about 4 hours of sunligh...more
I am not a climber, nor a mountaineer, and I have absolutely no desire to take up either sport, yet I couldn't put this book down. Art Davidson does a phenomenal job of taking a reader to Denali in the middle of the winter while a group of young climbers attempt to summit. I thought Art did a fantastic job of bringing the reader to the mountain and giving us a glimpse into what it means to find yourself trapped 17,000 ft high, with no means of rescue. You can't help but fall in love with these y...more
Wow! This is the best non-fiction adventure book I have yet to read...I found myself anxious to get home from work in order to read more about this incredibly dangerous and heroic tale to climb Mt. McKinley in the dead of winter.
This was another outstanding memoir in the mountaineering genre, and it was great read in tandem with "Forever on the Mountain," which was also about a troubled climb of Mount Denali in 1967. While "Forever" was written 40 years after the fact and was based on much research with the survivors, this book was written not very long after the actual climb itself by one of the climbers. Art Davidson is a fine writer, and has wonderful insights about climbers, climbing, the "relationship" between man...more
Well written and candid story of audacious attempt to climb the South Peak of Mt. McKinley in the winter of 1967. Fatal crevasse fall, confinement to an ice cave at 19,000 feet for the duration of a ferocious wind storm, frostbitten appendages, dehydration, altitude sickness, starvation, and miscellaneous other injuries ensue. Afterward, describing what each climber did in succeeding years was also interesting. Some made this experience the foundation of a mountaineering career, while others sim...more
Mountaineers Books Staff: This is a classic of outdoor adventure writing and is on several lists of the best adventure books of all time. The "148" refers to the lowest temperature that can be recorded, since the climbers trapped on Denali in this nonfiction story only know that it was that cold at a minimum. On this first-ever winter ascent of Mt. McKinley (Denali), Davidson lived to tell about it. Not everyone on the expedition did. Warning: Once started, you won't be able to put it down.
A re-publication; an expedition sets out to climb Mt Mckinley (Denali) in Alaska in the winter. Only three of them "summit", then are caught in a storm, the waiting party of four separates after they think the other three surely are dead. In the end all are rescued, although the party lost one man in a crevasse early in the climb. This version contains information on what each of the party is doing now, and other winter climbs that have been attempted on the mountain
Really enjoyed this book! Read a couple that weren't so great or exciting before this and this was a relief to finally read something that so captured my attention. I thought it was well written and portrayed their experience quite well. I have the wonderful blessing at looking at this breathtaking mountain everyday that it's visible and I loved reading about something that happened in it's peaks. I almost want to climb Denali now (although, NOT in the winter)! Maybe someday : )
Great book about a team climbing Mount McKinley in the winter. A true outdoor challenge! The team had to find out what they were made of and what they could overcome.
I know I've read sections of this book when I was young -- the summit party stuck in a snow cave on Denali during a winter ascent.
Really enjoyed this non-fiction book. Don't think their idea of a good time meshes well with mine, but crazy story nonetheless!
4.5 stars
I couldn't put this one down. I definitely prefer climbing Denali from my armchair to the real thing.
I couldn't put this one down. I definitely prefer climbing Denali from my armchair to the real thing.
Great book about the difficulties of climbing Mt Mckinley in the winter. Absolutely fascinating if you are a climber.
A chilling book...I read this book in summer wearing warm socks and a quilt! Brilliant book
Top knotch. I use to work for Dave one of the persons in the book. Highly recommend.
Great story of the first winter accent of Denali. (Mt Mckinley)
Interesting account of an ascent on Denali in the late 60's.
Mar 23, 2011
Nate Hendrix
added it
You know it's gonna be a good book when someone dies in the first 50 pages.
Incredible story, average read
just okay
Read this book and never complain about being cold again.
Fantastic book!
Just started this last night. As usual, a climbing book that kept me up way past my bedtime. Or maybe it was the 4:00 coffee?? More later...
Good read for anyone interested in alpine history or true stories of survival. Also serves as a good reminder for what not to do when traveling on a glacier.
Good read for anyone interested in alpine history or true stories of survival. Also serves as a good reminder for what not to do when traveling on a glacier.
These are the kind of climbers that gave climbing a bad name. Aside from everything else (kind of whiny, no clear planning) they kept the rescue helicopters waiting around for several hours while they decided whether or not to take the offered ride! WTF?
An extraordinary account of the harrowing ascent of Mt. McKinley in the winter of 1967.
Ever wonder what it's like to live in an snow cave and drink your pee to stay alive? You'd imagine that there are only so many adjectives to describe "cold", but this introduces you to so many more! An excellent read.
Oct 07, 2008
Ben
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Ben by:
big bro
Shelves:
outdoor-adventure-books,
amazing-books
sweet book about the first winter climb up 20,300 ft. Mt McKinely, aka Denali. -80F and 100 mph winds make windchill of -148 that is crazy cold really good book a guy falls in a crevasse and dies though
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